of us have been told – accounKng for less than 1 in 10 Americans. The Impression: Many have claimed that 1 in 3 or even 1 in 2 Americans are evangelical ChrisKans.
populaKon, less than 1 in 10. If every evangelical moved to New York State, there would not be a single evangelical among the roughly 300 million Americans in the other 49 states.
the enKre United States than there are Muslims in greater Cairo. Evangelical populaKon esKmates by Dr. ChrisKan Smith, Notre Dame, The Barna Group, American Church Research Project.
to the Church in their 30s, the majority no longer do. Those who return oben suffer from divorce and a decade of lifestyle habits made apart from Christ. Youth TransiKon Network, Lifeway
college and university professors if they had “unfavorable feelings” toward various religions. 3% held unfavorable feelings for Jews. 9% held unfavorable feelings for non-evangelical Christians. 22% held unfavorable feelings for Muslims. 53% held unfavorable views toward evangelical Christians. Alan Cooperman, “Is There Disdain for Evangelicals in the Classroom?,” The Washington Post, May 5, 2007
groups of evangelicals are sharply divided over how to respond to the rapidly changing culture. As a result, evangelicals are infighKng when we most need to be uniKng.
giving as a percentage of income since 1961, lower than the worst years of the Great Depression. John L. Ronsvalle and Silvia Ronsvalle, The State of Church Giving through 2004
Kthing and supporKng evangelical works, conKnues to decline. 17% of ChrisKans say they “Kthe” but only 3% actually give 10% or more of their income to the Lord’s work. Brian Kluth, Kingdom Seekers
world history, we have the opportunity to create an eternal legacy through ministry trusts, bequeathals and gibs that outlive our Kme on earth. (Luke 8:3, Ephesians 2:10, Luke 12:21, Manhew 25:31-‐46)
2. “ConservaKon” avoids debt and prioriKzes on disciple-‐making. 3. “PreparaKon” challenges mature givers to invest in an eternal legacy. 4. “Disciple” teaches our younger believers the joy of generous, sacrificial and consistent giving.
and worshippers, who are increasingly transformed by God’s grace and Holy Spirit to become more like Jesus, and whose hearts, minds, relaKonships and lifestyles reflect the character and mission of Jesus. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.”
and presence of Jesus Christ (Manhew 28:18-‐20): • to love God and love others • to make Jesus-‐followers of all naKons • to care for the poor, outcast and marginalized • to re-‐orient our lives in worship, communion and bapKsm
globally • to sit under the authority of God’s Word as it is regularly taught • to reproduce other thriving kingdom communiKes • to foster a partnership of generaKons to fulfill God’s mission in the world
to others what God has given to us; is our recogniKon that God is at work in the world and is looking for cooperaKve parKcipants in His mission; is our idenKty as ambassadors and missionaries to our world.
for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up mee3ng together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-‐25
on Mission :: We believe that the church exists to parKcipate in the mission of God in Christ by redempKvely engaging all aspects of society with the intent of proclaiming and demonstraKng the good news about Jesus Christ. We believe all of God’s people are called to be ambassadors of
Kingdom of God (God’s rule and authority manifest on earth) was (and is) the focus of the work and teaching of Jesus on earth. Our purpose as His community is to parKcipate with God in the advancement and extension of His kingdom into the world. We seek to serve His
is the most important authority for life and faith. We believe that the Bible is to be read and studied for formaKon, not just informaKon. We seek to be culturally relevant in our teaching while remaining faithful to the inspired text. We recognize the centrality of
church to be a spiritual family where all are welcome and loved. We believe that transformaKon happens best when people meet and are honest and vulnerable with each other, speaking the truth to each other in love. We believe the best expressions of community
people from all ethniciKes, generaKons and socio-‐economic statuses. We believe that the church is a picture of the new humanity, where previous ways of dividing humanity no longer apply in Christ.
believe in the power of God’s grace to transform lives, and reject anempts to legislate the ChrisKan life through human rules. We respect differences of theology and pracKce in non-‐essenKals and secondary maners. We seek to deal with issues redempKvely and allow
in the gibs, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to bring about the transformaKon of God’s people. We believe that God is the iniKator of worship and mission. We believe the calling of God’s people is to parKcipate with God in His work in the world.
a theology of reacKon regarding the role of the Holy Spirit today. We seek the Holy Spirit’s filling and empowering without dictaKng how that should occur.
each person has a unique contribuKon to make in God’s Kingdom, and that the role of the church is to inspire, teach and empower people for ministry in whatever place in life that God has called them. We oppose anything that places limits on the
(or ‘clergy’ and ‘laity’) disKncKons common to American church culture. We seek to grow a courageous, generous and faithful community that emphasizes lifelong learning and development, the discovery and pracKce of spiritual gibs, and decentralized ministry.
organizaKon and organism; therefore, we seek to be pracKcal and wise, while at the same Kme expecKng and praying that God would move, speak and lead us in surprising ways. We believe in prayer meeKngs and planning meeKngs. We want to be spiritual and spirit-‐led while at the same Kme being diligent and strategic.
both cultural withdrawal and cultural accommodaKon. We desire to be discerningly and selecKvely engaged in culture without being formed by its prioriKes and values. We seek to be a propheKc alternaKve to the ideals and ways of the world without
marginalized :: We believe we best embody the heart of God to the world by serving the poor and marginalized. We believe the wealthy need the poor as much as much as the poor need the wealthy. We seek to be known for our
injusKces of our world, by showing love in pracKcal, tangible ways. We believe the church is to seek the public good and promote human flourishing in every sphere of human society.
transformaKon into Christlikeness as we culKvate environments of spiritual growth in partnership with the Holy Spirit. 3. “…fishers of people” reflects the direcKve of Jesus to offer our lives in service and mission for the sake of the world.
pracKces have the biggest impact or most facilitate the mission of the church. We believe we must be strategically focused in how we uKlize the church’s Kme, energy, and resources, while at the same Kme encouraging people to find their own unique
and ministry of the church should exist in harmony with and in support of the overall mission of the church. We believe in focused, simple, and flexible ministry structures in order to best facilitate mission and the empowerment of people.
we’ll value: 1. Alignment around common mission 2. Risk/experimentaKon that leads to innovaKon 3. CreaKng adaptable, flexible and simple structures 4. SimplificaKon that leads to greater focus and empowerment
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